Rollers For Use With Watercraft Ports and Lifts

ABSTRACT

A roller for a floating watercraft port or lift is generally circular in radial cross-section and defines a diameter which decreasing from an axial center of the rollers to opposite ends of the rollers; such that the rollers are variable diameter rollers. In a variation, the rollers include circumferential grooves through which watercraft chines can glide. The rollers are received in roller sockets in the watercraft port or lift. The rollers rotate about an axle in the socket, and the sockets includes axle receiving channels which receive the roller axles. The roller axles and roller socket axle channels are sized and shaped such that the roller axles can be snap fitted into the axle channel to allow for removal of the roller from the socket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/956,215filed Aug. 16, 2007 which is titled Modular Floating WatercraftAssembly, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to floating docks or ports and lifts for personaland small water craft, and, in particular to rollers for use with suchports and lifts.

Over the past several years, manufacturers have begun producing larger(and heavier) personal water craft. Many of the existing floating portsare too small to support the newer personal watercraft out of the waterwhen the personal water craft are placed on the ports. Further, the newpersonal water craft vary in their general shape, particularly, theshape of their hulls. Because of the difference in hull shapes, theposition of the rollers on existing ports often needs to be adjusted. Ifthe roller position is not adjusted, the rollers may not roll easily,and thus will not ease entry and exit of the watercraft on to the port.Further, when the rollers do not roll properly, the hull of the personalwatercraft can be marred.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Briefly stated, a roller for a floating watercraft port or lift isdisclosed. The floating watercraft port/lift comprises an upper surface,a bottom surface, side surfaces, a front surface and a back surface. Acradle defined by a pair of opposed inwardly sloping walls is formed inat least a part of the upper surface. A plurality of roller socketspositioned along the cradle walls and the rollers received in at least apair of the roller sockets.

The rollers are generally circular in radial cross-section, and thusdefine a diameter. The diameter of the rollers decreases from an axialcenter of the rollers to opposite ends of the rollers, such that therollers are variable diameter rollers. In an illustrative embodiment,the rollers have an arced outer surface. In a variation, the rollersinclude circumferential grooves. The grooves are defined by a slopingside surfaces such that the grooves are wider at the roller surface thanat a bottom of the groove. The bottoms of the grooves all definediameters that are substantially the same. Hence, grooves positionedcloser to the opposite ends of the roller are shallower than groovespositioned closer to the axial center of the roller.

The roller sockets comprise socket end surfaces and a socket mainsurface extending between the socket end surfaces. The socket decreasesin width from the cradle defining wall to a radial bottom of the socketand the socket decreases in width from an axial center of the socket toopposed ends of the socket. Stated differently, the sockets, incross-section, define a segment of a circle, and the radius of thecircle decreases from the axial center of the socket to the opposed endsof the socket.

Axles extend through, or from the ends of, the rollers. The rollersockets include axle channels extending from opposite ends of the rollersocket. The axles are sized, and the axle channels are shaped, such thatthe axles are snap fitted into the axle channels; whereby the rollersare removable from the roller sockets substantially without the use oftools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a port entry member with rollers andconnecting elements;

FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of the port entry member;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional perspective view of the entry member toshow the mounting and positioning of rollers on the port member;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the port entrymember without rollers;

FIGS. 5A-B are cross sectional views of the port entry member takenalong lines A-A and B-B of FIG. 1, respectively, in which thecross-hatched area is a void or hollow area;

FIG. 6A is a side elevational view of a roller for use with theport/lift assembly; the roller having a roller axle extending therethrough;

FIG. 6B is a side elevational view of an alternative roller; and,

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of another alternative roller for usewith the port member.

Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the severalfigures of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way ofexample and not by way of limitation. This description will clearlyenable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, anddescribes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives anduses of the invention, including what we presently believe is the bestmode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangements of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried outin various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should notbe regarded as limiting.

A watercraft port 20 is shown generally in FIGS. 1 and 2. The port 20can be a port such as shown and described in U.S. Provisional App. No.60/956,215, the description of which is incorporated herein byreference. The port 20 is described in detail in the noted application,and will only be described to the extent necessary herein. The port 20includes an upper surface 22, side walls 24, a front end wall 26, a backend 28, and a bottom surface 30.

The upper surface 22 defines a cradle 32, upper deck surfaces 34, and asloping entrance or ramp section 37 at the back of the port entry. Thecradle 32 is defined by a pair of walls 36 which slope downwardly andinwardly to a channel 38 which extends rearwardly from the front end ofthe port entry member 20 to the forward end of the entrance section 37.The slope of the cradle walls 36 corresponds generally to the dead riseof a watercraft hull. To accommodate a greater number of watercraft, theslope of the cradle walls 36 corresponds to a median of commonwatercraft hull dead rise angles. The bottom of the channel 38 isgenerally level. Hence, the cradle 32 does not slope from front to back,but rather, is generally horizontal.

A plurality of roller sockets 40 (shown in more detail in FIGS. 4, 5Aand 5B) are formed in the cradle walls 36. As seen, the roller sockets40 are formed in pairs (i.e., two sockets, one on each of the cradlewalls 36, and which are aligned with each other). The roller sockets 40are shown to be evenly spaced apart along the length of the cradle 32,with the forward most socket being spaced slightly rearwardly of thefront wall 26. The roller sockets 40 are generally in the shape oftruncated ovals at the walls 36. That is, the upper edges of the sockets40 comprise opposed arced side edges 40 a (FIG. 4), the ends of whichare connected by generally straight end edges 40 b. The sockets 40could, of course, have other shapes. For example, the sockets could berectangular, square, or generally rhombus-shaped. If the sockets are inthe form of a rhombus, the rhombus form could be truncated at twoopposed corners (to form an elongated hexagon), or at all corners (toform an elongated octagon).

The illustrative sockets 40, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5A are definedby curved surfaces 42 a which extend downwardly from the socket sideedges 40 a, and end walls 42 b which extend downwardly from the socketend edges 40 b. The surfaces 42 a generally define a semi-circle incross-section, as best seen in FIG. 5B. The surface 42 a curves bothradially and axially (or in both the vertical plane and the horizontalplane). Hence, the diameter or radius of the semi-circle defined by thesurface 42 a is largest at the axial or lateral center of the socket anddecreases towards the opposite ends of the socket. The socket 40additionally includes a generally rectangular recess 44 at the bottom ofthe socket surface 42 a. The recess 44 has generally straight side walls44 a, generally straight end walls 44 b and a floor 44 c. A drain holeis formed in the floor 44 c. Lastly, the sockets 40 include opposed axlereceiving channels 48 which extend axially outwardly from the socket endwalls 42 b at the cradle wall 36. The axle receiving sockets define aline that is parallel to the cradle defining walls. The axle channels 48are shallower than the socket end walls 42 b, having a depth of aboutone-half the depth of the socket end walls 42 b.

Rollers 50 are received in the roller sockets 40. In one illustrativeembodiment, the roller 50 is shaped complementarily to the socket 40.Having the roller 50 and roller socket 40 shaped complementarily to eachother provides for a gap of uniform size between the roller and socket.However, the roller and socket need not be shaped complementarily toeach other. As seen in FIG. 6A, the illustrative roller 50 has an arcedor curved outer surface 52 and generally flat end surfaces. As can beappreciated, in end elevation, the roller defines a circle. However, thediameter of the circle defined by the surface 52 decreases from a middleof the roller towards the opposite ends of the roller. The roller 50also includes a through hole 54 through which an axle 56 (FIG. 6A)extends. The axle is sized to be snap fitted into the axle receivingchannels 48 of the socket 40. Thus, the roller can be easily removedfrom the socket if necessary. Inasmuch as the axle receiving channel isparallel to the cradle wall, when the roller is received in the socket,the axis of the roller will also be generally parallel to, and hencedefine the same angle as, the cradle wall. Although the axle isdescribed to be an independent piece, the axle could be formed with theroller, such that the roller and axle are formed as a one-pieceassembly. The ability to remove rollers 50 from the sockets 44 enhancesthe ability to configure (or reconfigure) the dock and port assembliesincorporating the port members 20. The axle 56, the roller through bore54, and the axle channels 48 are sized relative to each other such thatthe roller can rotate freely relative to the socket 40. Hence, theroller can rotate about the axle (and the axle can be relatively fixedin place in the socket axle channels 48), or the roller can bepositionally fixed to the axle, and the axle can freely rotate in thesocket axle channels 48. As seen in FIG. 2, the rollers 50 extend wellabove the cradle surface 36. In fact, approximately one-half of theroller is above the cradle wall 36.

The roller can take on other configurations. For example, the roller 50′of FIG. 6B has generally the same overall configuration as the roller50. However, it is provided with a series of circumferential grooves 50a. The grooves 50 a are each defined by inwardly sloping side walls 50 band a floor 50 c extending between the radial inner ends of the sidewalls 50 b. The roller 50′ is shown with four grooves 50 a. The twoouter grooves are of the same dimensions and the two inner grooves areof the same dimension. Additionally, the two outer grooves are shallowerthan the two inner grooves, such that the diameter of the groove floor50 c of each groove 50 a is the substantially the same. Further, thespacing between the grooves is generally constant. Thus, the roller issymmetrical about both a horizontal plane (i.e., a plane parallel to theaxis of the roller) and a vertical plane (i.e., a plane that isperpendicular to the axis of the roller 50′). As will be discussedfurther below, the grooves 50 a are sized to receive chines or strakesfrom the watercraft to be parked on the port member.

In another embodiment, the roller 50″ can have a generally straight,rather than arced or curved, side surface, such as seen in FIG. 6C, suchthat the roller has the appearance of a pair of trapezoids (or truncatedcones) connected together at their bases.

The roller configurations shown in FIGS. 6A-C are unitary, one piecerollers. However, the roller of FIG. 6C could, in fact, comprise twotruncated tapered rollers (i.e., in the shape of a truncated cone) whichare mounted on an axle with their bases adjacent each other. The rollerscould, alternatively be comprised of a plurality of roller elements ofvarying sizes, with the center roller element being the largest indiameter, and then roller elements of progressively smaller diameterbeing placed on opposite sides of the center roller. If the rollerelements are all cylindrical, then the roller would have a steppedappearance in side elevation. However, the roller elements could havecurved or sloped surfaces to more closely resemble the surface of therollers as shown in FIGS. 6A-B. Further, the length and diameter of therollers can be varied as desired, so long as the roller can fit androtate within the socket 40. In a further variation, the rollers coulddecrease in diameter from one end to the other (as opposed to decreasingin diameter from the axial center to the two opposite ends). In thiscase, the roller would be wide at one end and narrow at the oppositeend. Such a roller would be mounted in the port member with the narrowend facing the cradle channel and the wide end facing the side of theport member.

The use of the roller of varying diameter (such as shown in FIGS. 6A-C)is preferred over a cylindrical roller. As noted above, because of thedifference in hull shapes, the position of the rollers on the portsoften needs to be adjusted in ports which use cylindrical rollers. Thus,a port using cylindrical rollers can be used with only one or a limitednumber of models of watercraft without the need to adjust the positionof the rollers. If the roller position is not adjusted, the rollers maynot roll easily. Thus, entry and exit of the watercraft on to the portwill be more difficult. Further, when the rollers do not roll properly,the hull of the personal watercraft can be marred. The varying diameterof the roller 50 overcomes these problems and allows the port member 20to be used with different models and brands of personal watercraft (PWC)without the need to adjust the rollers. Because the effective slope ofthe roller changes over the axial length of the roller, the varyingdiameter roller (which presents an axially curving surface) will ensurea more rolling-like contact with a greater range of watercraft hulldesigns. In addition, the slope or dead rise of a watercraft hull is notconstant over the length of the hull. In general, the slope is steep atthe bow of the watercraft and almost flat at the stern of thewatercraft. The varying diameter rollers also help ensure that thewatercraft hull will engage the roller at a position which will allowthe roller to rotate about its axis. Hence, the use of the varyingdiameter roller with a cradle having a slope that to a median of commonwatercraft hull dead rise angles will allow the port member toaccommodate a greater variety of watercraft than a port with cylindricalrollers and a cradle wall slope that corresponds to only a fewwatercraft dead rise angles.

The rollers 50′ (FIG. 6B) have further advantages over the rollers 50.The grooves 50 a in the roller 50′ receive the chines of the watercraftas the watercraft passes over the rollers. Depending on the particularmodel of watercraft, chines may pass through one or more of the groovesas watercraft are loaded onto or unloaded off of the port. As is known,the chines typically do not extend the full length of the watercrafthull, and end forwardly of the stern of the watercraft. Thus, when thewatercraft is being backed off the port member 20, the watercraft chineswill have to be urged over the rollers if the rollers 50 (FIG. 6A) areused. This can require lifting of the back of the watercraft or aninitial extra effort as the back end of the chines pass over the rollers50. When the rollers 50′ are used, the watercraft chines willautomatically find one of the roller grooves 50 a to slide through.Hence, this initial extra effort or the need to raise the back end ofthe watercraft will not be needed to easily back the watercraft off theport member

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense. For example, although the rollers are described for use with awatercraft port, it will be apparent that the rollers could also be usedwith a watercraft lift. This example is merely illustrative.

1. A floating watercraft port/lift comprising an upper surface, a bottomsurface, side surfaces, a front surface and a back surface; a cradlebeing formed in at least a part of said upper surface; said cradle beingdefined by a pair of opposed inwardly sloping walls; a plurality ofroller sockets positioned along said cradle walls and rollers receivedin at least a pair of said roller sockets; said rollers being generallycircular in radial cross-section and defining a diameter; the diameterof said rollers decreasing from an axial center of said rollers toopposite ends of said rollers; such that said rollers are variablediameter rollers.
 2. The floating watercraft port of claim 1 whereinsaid roller sockets comprise socket end surfaces and a socket mainsurface extending between said socket end surfaces; said socketdecreasing in width from said cradle defining wall to a radial bottom ofsaid socket and said socket decreasing in width from an axial center ofsaid socket to opposed ends of said socket.
 3. The floating watercraftport of claim 1 wherein said roller sockets, in cross-section, define asegment of a circle; the radius of the circle decreasing from the axialcenter of the socket to the opposed ends of the socket.
 4. The floatingwatercraft port of claim 1 wherein said rollers define an axis; saidrollers being are circular in cross-section in a plane generallyperpendicular to said axis and having an arced outer surface such thatthe diameter of said roller decreases from an axial center of saidrollers to the opposed ends of said rollers.
 5. The floating watercraftport of claim 4 wherein said rollers include circumferential groovesformed in said rollers.
 6. The floating watercraft port of claim 5wherein said grooves are defined by a sloping side surfaces such thatsaid groove is wider at said roller surface than at a bottom of saidgroove.
 7. The floating watercraft port of claim 5 wherein the bottomsof said grooves all define a diameters that are substantially the same.8. The floating watercraft of claim 7 wherein grooves positioned closerto the opposite ends of said roller are shallower than groovespositioned closer to the axial center of said roller.
 9. The floatingwatercraft port of claim 1 wherein axles extend through said rollers;said roller sockets including axle channels extending from opposite endsof said roller socket; said axles being sized, and said axle channelsbeing shaped, such that said axles are snap fitted into said axlechannels; whereby said rollers are removable from said roller socketssubstantially without the use of tools.
 10. The floating watercraft portof claim 1 including a cradle channel extending along a center of saidcradle, said cradle channel being positioned between said sloping walls.11. The floating watercraft port of claim 1 wherein said roller socketsof said pair of walls are aligned with each other to define pairs ofroller sockets.
 12. A roller for use in a watercraft port or liftassembly; said roller comprising an outer surface and end surfaces andhaving an axis; said outer surface defining a circle in cross-sectionand having a diameter; the diameter of said roller outer surfacedecreasing from an axial center of said roller towards said endsurfaces.
 13. The roller of claim 12 wherein said outer surface definesan axial curvature.
 14. The roller of claim 12 further includingcircumferential grooves formed in said roller outer surface.
 15. Theroller of claim 14 wherein said grooves are defined by a sloping sidesurfaces such that said groove is wider at said roller surface than at abottom of said groove.
 16. The roller of claim 15 wherein the bottoms ofsaid grooves all define a diameters that are substantially the same. 17.The roller of claim 16 wherein grooves positioned closer to the oppositeends of said roller are shallower than grooves positioned closer to theaxial center of said roller.